Latest news with #KingCup
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Benzema storms back to take acclaim as Aouar stars in Ittihad's cup triumph
DUBAI: Form is temporary, class is permanent. After a difficult start to his Al-Ittihad career, Karim Benzema has stormed back to his best to crown a sensational season with a two goal-performance as the Yellows added the King Cup to their recent Saudi Pro League triumph. Team-mate Houssem Aouar was nominated as the man of the match in the 3-1 win over Al-Qadsiah in Friday's final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. As the celebrations continued the day after the final, football accounts and fans — many from France and former club Real Madrid — across social media have been united in their praise for the former Ballon d'Or winner, who on Wednesday was named 2024-25 player of the season by the Saudi Pro League. On X, @433, which has a following of 5.8 million, commented: 'AL ITTIHAD WIN THE SAUDI DOUBLE! What a season for Karim Benzema: Saudi Pro League. King's Cup. Player of the Year.' Meanwhile @theMadridZone, with 1.4 million followers, posted a photo of Benzema with the King Cup and Saudi Pro league trophies following the presentation after Friday's final. Just three days earlier, the same account had posted: 'Congratulations to Karim Benzema for winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad. Champion wherever he goes.' Al-Ittihad's own English account on X had simply posted: 'THE GOAT. Player of the Season @Benzema.' The French star became the first player since Julio Tavares of Al-Faisaly to score twice in the final of Saudi Arabia's premier cup competition with goals in the 34th minute and deep into stoppage time at the end of the match. The first came from a clever chested effort from Steven Bergwijn's cross from the right while the second was a simple tap-in from close inside the six-yard box to end Al-Qadsiah's dreams of a late miracle. Aouar scored Al-Ittihad's second on 43 minutes while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replied with Qadsiah's solitary effort six minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half with a penalty as the Jeddah giants claimed their tenth title in the competition. At the final whistle, a celebrating Benzema still found time to console former Real Madrid colleague and current Qadsiah captain Nacho with a warm hug. Benzema had joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 but his first season did not go to plan as the then reigning champions failed to retain the SPL title they had won for the first time in 14 years the previous campaign. Injuries and lack of form, not to mention managerial changes at the club, led to frustration from supporters who questioned the wisdom of Benzene's signing as Al-Hilal stormed another League title. All that has been forgiven and forgotten as Benzema rolled back the years to score 21 SPL goals for Laurent Blanc's team in 2024-25, behind in the top scorer's chart to only Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo with 25 and Al-Ahli's Ivan Toney with 23. The King Cup double was the icing on the cake for the 37-year-old Ittihad captain. While Benzema has rightly been lauded by his club's supporters and others across the region for his display, Algeria's Aouar has been named player of the match by football platform Sofascore, which awards players scores out of 10 for their performances. Aouar was given 8.3 for his own starring role against Al-Qadsia, which saw him nod-in from close range after Qadsia goalkeeper Koen Casteels had saved brilliantly from Benzema's header. Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was second with a score of 8.0 while Benzema came third with 7.9.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Presents King's Cup to Al-Ittihad
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attended the final match of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup for the current sports season 2024-25 on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Crown Prince presented the King's Cup trophy to the winner, Al-Ittihad football club after defeating Al Qadsiah in a match held on Friday evening at Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema scored twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Cup final. Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal expressed his sincere gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his generous patronage of this precious occasion and to the Crown Prince for his attendance of the final match. The match was also attended by several princes and officials.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Benzema's double strike gives Ittihad the double
JEDDAH: Karim Benzema scored twice as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Qadsiah 3-1 on Friday to lift the King Cup and complete the double after winning the Saudi Pro League title earlier in May. At a delighted King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, the Frenchman scored in each half to give the Tigers another trophy to celebrate with their fans. It marked a 10th King Cup triumph for the club to go along with its 10th league success. There was an explosion of goalmouth action in the closing stages of the first half. Al-Ittihad had been on top for much of the game but both teams had come close. Fans to wait until the 34th minute however to break the deadlock. #King_Cup_Final For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport — Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) May 30, 2025 First, Benzema, who scored 21 league goals, did what he does best. Moussa Diaby freed Steven Bergwijn down the right and his cross was chested home by Benzema. Then, after 43 minutes, Diaby floated a ball over from the right to Benzema at the far post and while the Frenchman's header was saved, there was Houssem Aouar to finish from close range. Just when the Tigers were set to head back in at the break in a very good position, Al-Qadsiah were back in the game. Cameron Puertas was bundled over the box and up stepped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to send Predrag Rajkovic the wrong way. After the restart, the next goal was always going to be crucial and though Al-Qadsiah pushed for an equaliser, it was Benzema who settled the tie and won the cup in added time after Qadsiah's Ezequiel Hernandez had been sent off for a second bookable offence. Not for the first time in the game or the season, much of the good work was done by Diaby. The winger broke free on the left to put the ball across the goal for his fellow Frenchman to score from close range to seal the cup and the double with almost the last kick of a hugely successful –and long- season for Ittihad.
Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
‘Al-Ittihad fans will be influential against Al-Qadsiah' in King Cup final, says Laurent Blanc
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad head coach Laurent Blanc confirmed the team's full readiness, predicting that Al-Ittihad fans will be influential against Al-Qadsiah when they meet on Friday in the King Cup final at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah. Blanc spoke to the press on Thursday ahead of the King Cup final, saying: 'Al-Qadsiah are a strong rival, and I know how dangerous they are. Of course, they have ambitions to win the title. They have distinguished players, and they have speed, but my team are fully prepared for this match and will be ready to fight, enjoy and win. 'Al-Ittihad fans in Jeddah are important for the team. We must focus mentally. 'I am proud of the players after they had an exceptional season, and tomorrow our team will be ready to fight for victory. I have 22 players ready for the match, I know my team well, and I am happy with the players' readiness.' His countryman Karim Benzema, the captain of Al-Ittihad, explained that Al-Qadsiah have good players and a good coach, but playing the match in Jeddah will be in their favor. He said: 'Al-Qadsiah have a good coach and players, but we have full confidence in tomorrow's match. As everyone knows, finals are won, not played. Today, we have a final training session in preparation for the final. This season, we were able to win against all teams, and tomorrow we have the home advantage and the fans. 'So, it's job done in the Saudi Pro League, fantastic, and we're happy to win the title. But tomorrow is a different game, a final, and we want to win at any cost.' On the other side, Al-Qadsiah's head coach, Michel Gonzalez, expressed his happiness to play in the King Cup final against Al-Ittihad, on Friday, at the end of the sports season. 'I am very happy with what we have achieved by reaching this great final, thanks to the players' efforts,' Gonzalez said on Thursday during a press conference in Jeddah. 'We were able to secure an advanced position in the Saudi Pro League, in addition to qualifying for the final match of the King Cup. 'We had a real and strong desire to perform well since the beginning of the season, and all the club's fans are happy with what the team have achieved. Everyone knows that we have performed at a high level this season … On the final night, we will face a very strong team, which recently won the Saudi Pro League. 'I promise the fans to do everything we can to beat Al-Ittihad for the first time this season and win the Cup title.' Al-Qadsiah's defender Nacho Fernandez expressed his confidence in his team's ability to win the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup title against Al-Ittihad in the final match. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Ittihad Seal 10th Saudi Pro League Title
Al-Ittihad, captained by Karim Benzema, clinched the Saudi Pro League title with two matches to spare as they came from a goal down to beat Al-Raed 3-1 on Thursday. The win at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraydah moved Al-Ittihad to 77 points from 32 matches, nine points ahead of second-placed Al-Hilal. A victory was all Al-Ittihad, coached by Laurent Blanc, needed to earn their 10th league title, and the first since 2023, but the already-relegated Al-Raed drew first blood as Omar Gonzalez gave the bottom team the lead from close range after nine minutes. Al-Ittihad, however, fought back with Steven Bergwijn equalizing 12 minutes later. A Danilo Pereira header gave them the lead shortly before halftime. Two minutes into the second half, Abdulrahman Al-Oboud put the game out of Al-Raed's reach. The Jeddah-based club still have a chance to win another trophy this season as they take on Al-Qadsiah in the King's Cup final on May 30.
